Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy: A Systematic Narrative Review of the Literature
Sandra J Drozdz, Akash Goel, Matthew W Mcgarr, Joel Katz, Paul Ritvo, Gabriella Mattina, Venkat Bhat, Calvin Diep, Karim S Ladha
Journal of Pain Research June 1, 2022 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s360733 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 603 |
| Population | Participants from seventeen articles on ketamine-assisted psychotherapy |
| Intervention | Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy |
| Topics | Anxiety Ketamine Esketamine Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Narrative review Psychotherapist Systematic review Mental health Randomized controlled trial Medline |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | Combined ketamine and psychotherapy treatments can, in specific circumstances, initiate and prolong clinically significant reductions in pain, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, while encouraging rapport and treatment engagement, and promoting abstinence in patients addicted to other substances. |
Abstract
Sandra J Drozdz,1 Akash Goel,1â 3 Matthew W McGarr,4 Joel Katz,3,5â 7 Paul Ritvo,5,7 Gabriella F Mattina,1 Venkat Bhat,8â 10 Calvin Diep,3 Karim S Ladha1,3,10 1Department of Anesthesia, St. Michaelâs Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada; 2Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; 3Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; 4Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; 5Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada; 6Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; 7School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada; 8Interventional Psychiatry Program, St. Michaelâs Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada; 9Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; 10Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michaelâs Hospital, Toronto, ON, CanadaCorrespondence: Karim S Ladha, St. Michaelâs Hospital, 30 Bond St, 6th Floor Donnelly Wing, Toronto, ON, ON, Canada, Tel +1 416-864-6060 ext. 49308, Fax +1 416-864-6014, Email Karim.Ladha@mail.utoronto.caAbstract: Currently, ketamine is used in treating multiple pain, mental health, and substance abuse disorders due to rapid-acting analgesic and antidepressant effects. Its limited short-term durability has motivated research into the potential synergistic actions between ketamine and psychotherapy to sustain benefits. This systematic review on ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) summarizes existing evidence regarding present-day practices. Through rigorous review, seventeen articles that included 603 participants were identified. From available KAP publications, it is apparent that combined treatments can, in specific circumstances, initiate and prolong clinically significant reductions in pain, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, while encouraging rapport and treatment engagement, and promoting abstinence in patients addicted to other substances. Despite much variance in how KAP is applied (route of ketamine administration, ketamine dosage/frequency, psychotherapy modality, overall treatment length), these findings suggest psychotherapy, provided before, during, and following ketamine sessions, can maximize and prolong benefits. Additional large-scale randomized control trials are warranted to understand better the mutually influential relationships between psychotherapy and ketamine in optimizing responsiveness and sustaining long-term benefits in patients with chronic pain. Such investigations will assist in developing standardized practices and maintenance programs.Keywords: addiction, alternative treatment, anesthesia, chronic pain, mental health, novel therapeutic
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on ketamine and psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 94
- The Psychedelic Future of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment Current Neuropharmacology January 5, 2024
- Long term structural and functional neural changes following a single infusion of Ketamine in PTSD Neuropsychopharmacology June 3, 2023
- Psychedelic therapies reconsidered: compounds, clinical indications, and cautious optimism. Neuropsychopharmacology July 21, 2023
- Psychedelics in the treatment of eating disorders: Rationale and potential mechanisms European Neuropsychopharmacology June 21, 2023
- Targeting metaplasticity mechanisms to promote sustained antidepressant actions. Molecular Psychiatry April 1, 2024
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Cites 26
- Subanesthetic Effects of the Noncompetitive NMDA Antagonist, Ketamine, in Humans Archives of General Psychiatry March 1, 1994
- mTOR-Dependent Synapse Formation Underlies the Rapid Antidepressant Effects of NMDA Antagonists Science August 19, 2010
- NMDAR inhibition-independent antidepressant actions of ketamine metabolites Nature April 24, 2016
- Antidepressant Efficacy of Ketamine in Treatment-Resistant Major Depression: A Two-Site Randomized Controlled Trial American Journal of Psychiatry August 28, 2013
- Efficacy of Esketamine Nasal Spray Plus Oral Antidepressant Treatment for Relapse Prevention in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression JAMA Psychiatry June 5, 2019
and 21 more in the library